JPH0456638B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention can automatically select the next drying process depending on the relationship between the temperature of the exhaust gas discharged from the drying chamber of a clothes dryer and the degree of drying. This invention relates to a control device for a clothes dryer.

Conventional configuration and its problems Conventional clothes dryers are equipped with electrodes that detect the degree of dryness of clothes and a thermistor that detects the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the drying chamber of the clothes dryer, such as a rotating drum. If a predetermined degree of dryness cannot be detected within a predetermined time from the start of the drying process, the drying process is stopped at that point and an abnormality notification is issued. At this time, the power supply to the heater is controlled according to the value of the exhaust temperature, and the time from the start to the end of the drying process is set to a long time that allows the clothes to be completely dry regardless of the amount of clothes or other conditions. Ta. Furthermore, even when the time until the degree of dryness is detected is short, the subsequent drying step (delay time) is determined by the time until the exhaust gas temperature rises by a predetermined value.

In such conventional clothes dryers, when the amount of clothes is extremely small, the electrodes cannot be detected because the clothes do not come into contact with the electrodes, the degree of dryness cannot be detected in a short time, and the electrodes fail. When the "electrode cannot be detected" occurs, the drying process continues for a long time, consuming unnecessary energy, and causing wrinkles due to overdrying of the clothes.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and solves the problem when the electrode cannot be detected when the amount of clothes is extremely small, when the electrode cannot be detected due to failure of the electrode detection circuit, or when the degree of dryness is detected in a short time. An object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a clothes dryer that can prevent unnecessary consumption of energy.

Composition of the Invention A control device for a clothes dryer according to the present invention includes a dryness degree detection means for detecting the degree of dryness of clothes, and a predetermined degree of dryness based on the output of the dryness degree detection means and dryness degree data stored in a storage means. dryness degree determining means for determining whether the clothes are stored in the drying chamber; exhaust temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from the drying chamber in which clothes are stored; Exhaust temperature determination means for determining that the exhaust temperature is a predetermined exhaust temperature from the data;
The output of the dryness degree determining means and the output of the exhaust temperature determining means are input, and the exhaust temperature determining means determines the exhaust temperature to a predetermined value before the dryness degree determining means outputs an output indicating that the degree of dryness is a predetermined degree. When the dryness degree determining means outputs an output indicating that the degree of dryness has reached a predetermined degree, a first drying process, which is a hot air drying operation that takes a short time, is executed, and when the dryness degree determining means outputs an output indicating that the degree of dryness is a predetermined degree. If the exhaust temperature determining means outputs an output indicating that the exhaust temperature has not reached the predetermined value, the time required from the start of the drying process until the dryness degree determining means outputs the predetermined degree of dryness is within a predetermined time. If the time required from the start of drying is within a predetermined time, the first drying process, which is a short hot air drying operation, is executed, and the time required from the start of the drying process is within a predetermined time. If the above is the case, the apparatus is equipped with a control means for executing the second drying process, which is a hot air drying operation that takes a long time.

Description of examples Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a dryness degree detection means that detects the electrical resistance of clothing. Reference numeral 2 denotes a degree of dryness determination means, into which the output of the degree of dryness detection means 1 and the output of the storage means 3 are input. Here, the storage means 3 is
It stores data related to determining the degree of dryness, data related to exhaust temperature, data for driving the heater and motor for a predetermined period of time, and the like. The dryness degree determining means 2 generates an output when the degree of dryness of the clothes reaches a predetermined value.

Reference numeral 4 denotes exhaust temperature detection means, which is provided within the exhaust guide. Reference numeral 5 denotes an exhaust gas temperature determining means, which determines a predetermined exhaust gas temperature based on the output of the exhaust temperature detecting means 4 and the data in the storage means 3. The outputs of the dryness degree determining means 2 and the exhaust temperature detecting means 5 are both input to the control means 6. The control means 6 controls the heater drive means 7 to control the supply of electricity to the heater. It also controls the motor driving means 8 to control energization of the motor. Further, when an abnormality occurs, the abnormality notification drive means 9 is controlled to make a buzzer sound.

The control means 6 energizes the motor and heater to perform hot air drying, and the dryness level determining means 2
When the exhaust temperature determined by the exhaust temperature determining means 5 reaches a predetermined value or more before the output of the dryness degree determining means 2 is outputted, and when the time required until the output of the degree of dryness determining means 2 is outputted is within the prescribed time, the next first drying step is performed. If the time required for output from the dryness degree determining means 2 is longer than a predetermined time, the process proceeds to a second drying step.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of this embodiment. 10 is a main body, and a rotatable drum 11 is provided at the center of the main body. The degree of dryness detection means 1 is constituted by an electrode 1a, and is provided at a position facing the inner surface of the drum so that clothing can easily come into contact with it.

The exhaust temperature detection means 4 is a thermistor 4a,
An exhaust guide 12 is provided for exhausting humid air within the drum 10 to the outside of the main body 9. A heater 13 is provided on the front side of the main body 9 and is energized by the heater drive means 7. Further, a motor 14 is provided at the inner bottom of the main body 9 and is energized by the motor driving means 8. A buzzer 15 that is sounded by the abnormality notification drive means 9 is provided on the front surface of the main body 9. 16 is a microcomputer, which uses a built-in program to determine the degree of dryness, determines the exhaust temperature, and controls the heater 13 and motor 1.
4. Generates signals for driving the buzzers 15, respectively. Specifically, a storage unit 16a that stores dryness degree data, exhaust temperature data, etc.
, an input section 16b that inputs the output of the electrode 1a and the output of the thermistor 4a, an output section 16c that outputs control signals to the heater drive means 7, motor drive means 8, and abnormality notification drive means 9, and the memory. It has an arithmetic control section 16d that controls the section 16a, input section 16b, and output section 16c, respectively, and performs data comparison operations and the like.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. FIG. 3 shows the main part of a flowchart controlled by the microcomputer 16.

Generally, after putting the material to be dried into the drum 11, the user operates a switch (not shown) to start drying.

This operation causes the microcomputer 16 to drive the heater 13 through the heater drive means 7 in step 21.
energizes the motor 14 via the motor drive means 8.
energize and start hot air drying operation.

The exhaust gas temperature during such hot air drying operation varies slightly depending on the ambient temperature and the heater capacity, but depending on the amount of clothing, the characteristics are as shown in FIG. 4. When there is a large amount of clothing, the temperature becomes T ₁ , and the exhaust temperature when the clothing is completely dry is within a predetermined value. On the other hand, when the amount of clothes is small, the condition becomes T ₂ , and the degree of dryness is detected (point t ₂ ) before the specified exhaust temperature is reached, but the time from the start of hot air drying to the detection of the degree of dryness is extremely short. . Furthermore, it has been experimentally revealed that when the amount of clothing is extremely small, the temperature becomes _T3 , and the exhaust temperature reaches a predetermined value before a predetermined degree of dryness is detected.

Exhaust temperature detection means 4 at the same time as hot air drying operation starts
The predetermined value of the exhaust gas temperature and the presence or absence of the output of the electrode 1a of the dryness level detection means 1 are memorized based on the output of the thermistor 4a, and before determining that the predetermined dryness level has been reached in step 22, the exhaust temperature When it reaches a predetermined value, the process proceeds to the next first drying step in step 23. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 22 that the predetermined degree of dryness has been reached before the exhaust gas temperature reaches the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step 24, and if the hot air drying time until the predetermined degree of dryness is reached is within the predetermined value. For example, the process proceeds to the next first drying process, and if the value is above the predetermined value, the process proceeds to the next second drying process in step 25. When the next first or second drying step is completed, the power supply to the heater and motor is stopped (not shown). Note that the first drying process is stored in the microcomputer 16 so that the required time is shorter than that of the second drying process.

According to the above embodiment, the next drying process is automatically set regardless of the amount of clothing or even when the electrode detection circuit fails, thereby preventing unnecessary energy use and preventing wrinkles. It also becomes.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the present invention has a means for detecting and determining a predetermined degree of dryness, a means for detecting and discriminating exhaust temperature, and an output of each of the above-mentioned discriminating means is input, and a predetermined degree of dryness is detected. If the predetermined exhaust temperature is reached before the drying temperature is reached, and if the time required to reach the predetermined dryness is within the predetermined time, proceed to the next first drying step until the predetermined dryness is reached. If the drying time is longer than a predetermined time, a control means is provided to proceed to the next second drying process, and the drying process is always performed in accordance with detailed classifications such as large and small amounts of clothes and cases where there is an extremely small amount of clothes. To provide a control device for a clothes dryer, which can obtain a good drying effect, and can also prevent unnecessary use of energy and the generation of wrinkles.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of main parts of a control device for a clothes dryer showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the clothes dryer and the control device, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the control device. FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between exhaust temperature and drying time. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Dryness degree detection means, 2... Dryness degree discrimination means, 3... Memory means, 4... Exhaust temperature detection means, 5... Exhaust temperature discrimination means, 6... Control means,
7... Heater drive means, 8... Motor drive means,
9... Abnormality alarm drive means, 10... Dryer main body,
11...Drum, 12...Exhaust guide, 13...
Heater, 14...Motor, 15...Buzzer, 16
...Microcomputer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A degree of dryness detection means for detecting the degree of dryness of clothing; a degree of dryness determination means for determining whether the degree of dryness is a predetermined degree from the output of the degree of dryness detection means and the degree of dryness data stored in the storage means; Exhaust temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of exhaust gas discharged from a drying chamber containing a dryer, and determining whether the exhaust temperature is a predetermined exhaust temperature from the output of this exhaust temperature detection means and the exhaust temperature data stored in the storage means. an exhaust gas temperature determining means; the output of the dryness degree determining means and the output of the exhaust gas temperature determining means are input; outputs an output indicating that the exhaust temperature has reached a predetermined value, executes a first drying step which is a hot air drying operation that takes a short time, and determines that the dryness degree determination means indicates that the dryness degree is a predetermined degree. If the exhaust temperature determining means outputs an output indicating that the exhaust temperature has not reached the predetermined value, the period from the start of the drying process until the dryness degree determining means outputs the predetermined degree of dryness It is determined whether the required time is within a predetermined time or not, and if the required time from the start of drying is within a predetermined time, a first drying process, which is a hot air drying operation that requires a short time, is executed, and from the start of the drying process. A control device for a clothes dryer, comprising: a control means for executing a second drying process, which is a hot air drying operation that takes a long time, if the required time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time.